The latest edition of our Green Piece Column looked at the ‘ones to watch’ in the green car race – but perhaps there is another new name that could make a serious impact in the motoring world.

The newly established Dongfeng Motor Korea will begin importing vehicles from Dongfeng Motor in China – making it the first incursion of Chinese built vehicles into the South Korean market. It is a significant step as Chinese automakers begin to establish themselves as serious competitors in the new automotive age.

The Korean version of the company will sell four models including a one-ton truck, a commercial minivan and both a six- and nine-passenger van. The vehicles will go on sale in the country beginning in April, 2010. 

According to Lee Chulwoong, a Dongfeng Motor Korea executive, the vehicles will be 30 per cent cheaper than Korean vehicles and should attract interest from private entrepreneurs. What’s more is that there should be no issues with them gaining technical certification because the vehicles were exported to markets in Europe and Singapore two years ago.

Dongfeng has focused on trucks and vans ahead of its passenger vehicles because its saloon cars are said to be not up to the standards set by Korean manufacturers in terms of their interior and engine. The vans and small trucks however, should be well placed to succeed with many private entrepreneurs preferring trucks and vans with lower prices and higher quality.